The government of India has been raising a lot of eyebrows due to its relatively authoritarian slant, and it has embarked on a campaign of cracking down on social media platforms that refuse to toe the line. The Indian government recently unveiled a new set of rules that will make it even harder for people to enjoy free speech than might have been the case otherwise.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the Indian government might not entirely be at fault here. Even though this might be a step too far since it will make the Indian government the final arbiter of what and can’t be said online, the government might need to enact these measures to limit the powers of criminal enterprises and subversive elements.
Also, this isn’t the first time that governments have interfered with speech on social media. When the Covid pandemic was first breaking out, Twitter and other social media platforms were urged to take down misinformation pertaining to vaccines and other aspects of the globe spanning disease.
However, it should also be mentioned that India’s government might not have the best interests of its people at heart. The authoritarian sentiments that are coming out of the Center have sparked a lot of alarm because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up infringing on the rights of Indian citizens, especially minorities.
One thing is clear, this is a debate that will rage for a long time to come. The situation is far too complicated to allow for quick resolutions, and India’s current system might prove to be a useful litmus test for the pros and cons of government oversight.
Whether this is for the best or the worst remains to be seen. All eyes will be on India, as its government continues its trajectory and stretches the limits of what can be deemed fair. It is quite an interesting time for social media, and 2023 will confirm what the reality of the situation truly is.
H/T: SMT
Read next: iPhones Require 12 Times as Many Workers to Assemble Than Android Phones, Here’s Why
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the Indian government might not entirely be at fault here. Even though this might be a step too far since it will make the Indian government the final arbiter of what and can’t be said online, the government might need to enact these measures to limit the powers of criminal enterprises and subversive elements.
Also, this isn’t the first time that governments have interfered with speech on social media. When the Covid pandemic was first breaking out, Twitter and other social media platforms were urged to take down misinformation pertaining to vaccines and other aspects of the globe spanning disease.
However, it should also be mentioned that India’s government might not have the best interests of its people at heart. The authoritarian sentiments that are coming out of the Center have sparked a lot of alarm because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up infringing on the rights of Indian citizens, especially minorities.
One thing is clear, this is a debate that will rage for a long time to come. The situation is far too complicated to allow for quick resolutions, and India’s current system might prove to be a useful litmus test for the pros and cons of government oversight.
Whether this is for the best or the worst remains to be seen. All eyes will be on India, as its government continues its trajectory and stretches the limits of what can be deemed fair. It is quite an interesting time for social media, and 2023 will confirm what the reality of the situation truly is.
H/T: SMT
Read next: iPhones Require 12 Times as Many Workers to Assemble Than Android Phones, Here’s Why
